Dan Martin

Leicestershire County Council is rebuilding nine chimneys at Beaumanor Hall after 2025 inspections found them at risk of collapse. The £500,000 work, using the original bricks and specialist lifting equipment, is expected to take another eight weeks while the Grade II listed hall remains open for events. The council is also developing plans to address the venue’s losses, which exceeded £459,000 in 2024-25 and are forecast at £627,000 in 2025-26. Despite suggestions that the property could be sold, council leaders say they want to retain it and are considering public ideas such as themed events, outdoor cinema, festivals and comedy shows to make it financially self-sustaining.

Leicester City Council plans to resurface a one-mile stretch of Aylestone Road and repair its cycle lane in a £740,000 phased project running from 10 August into mid-September 2026. The work will involve daytime and overnight closures, with traffic diverted via Lutterworth Road, Glenhills Way and Saffron Lane. Assistant city mayor Geoff Whittle said the repairs were necessary to maintain a key route into Leicester city centre and that the council would seek to limit disruption and complete the scheme on schedule.

About 200 people protested plans to expand Leicester's boundary into neighbouring towns and villages as part of a wider reorganisation replacing Leicestershire's existing councils with two unitary authorities in 2028. Opposition councillors and residents called the move an undemocratic land grab, while the government said it would improve services, support housing and infrastructure, and boost regional growth. Leicester mayor Peter Soulsby defended the expansion as necessary and said it could save local taxpayers more than £40 million annually. Leicestershire County Council voted 45–1 to oppose the plan and urged the government to reconsider it.

The government will proceed with plans to expand Leicester's boundary into neighbouring towns and villages despite consultation results showing that 87% of respondents felt negative about creating a larger city authority. Conservative MPs, along with other county politicians, accuse ministers of disregarding public opinion, and Alberto Costa is considering a judicial review. The government says local views were weighed alongside factors including stronger councils, financial sustainability, housing delivery and regional growth. Leicester mayor Peter Soulsby supports the expansion, while Leicestershire County Council leader Dan Harrison says the decision is disappointing but pledges constructive cooperation. The new structure will create Leicester Council for the enlarged city and a combined Leicestershire and Rutland Council for the remaining areas.

East Midlands Railway will reduce Intercity services indefinitely due to ongoing reliability problems with its new Aurora Class 810 trains, introduced after years of delays. Routes to and from London St Pancras will see cancellations and shorter trains while EMR and manufacturer Hitachi Rail work on resolving mechanical and maintenance issues affecting both new and old fleets. Passengers with cancelled services may travel on nearby trains or request refunds. Rail user groups and local MP Neil O’Brien criticised the cuts, warning they worsen already unreliable services. Hitachi Rail stated it is working with partners and expanding testing to improve fleet performance as remaining trains are delivered.

Opponents of a government‑approved expansion of Leicester’s political boundary vowed to challenge the decision, potentially through a judicial review. Reform UK and Conservative figures in Leicestershire argue the move forces towns and villages into an enlarged city authority without public support, while leaders from Harborough label it a land grab. Leicester’s mayor defends the change as overdue and necessary to give suburban residents representation, support housing growth and deliver efficiency savings. The government says the reorganisation will streamline services and boost regional development, with new councils expected to be in place by 2028 following shadow elections in 2027.

North West Leicestershire District Council rejected plans for a large warehouse in Kegworth after more than 200 objections over concerns including overbearing structure, traffic, and noise and light pollution. Local councillors and residents argued the development would negatively affect the predominantly residential area, while the applicant’s agent highlighted job creation and use of brownfield land. Planning officers had recommended approval, and the developer may appeal, leaving the final decision to government planning inspectors.

An additional £10m in redirected Levelling Up funding has been approved to support Leicester’s stalled railway station redevelopment, bringing total investment to £32.6m. Leicester City Council expects the increased budget to attract contractors after earlier failed attempts to procure bids. Work is now hoped to begin in 2028 and finish by 2030. While officials highlight the project as essential to modernizing the station and expanding capacity, opposition councillors warn of escalating costs and delays. A reduced but still progressing plan for the St Margaret’s junction upgrade will accompany the station revamp, with improvements for buses, pedestrians and cyclists remaining in scope.

Contractors repaired cracked reinforced glazing over King Richard III’s grave at the Leicester visitor centre after a visitor accidentally dropped a glass bottle onto the panel. Leicester City Council confirmed the work caused no harm to the archaeological site, with a crane and protective platform used during the replacement. The £30,000 repair was mostly covered by insurance, and staff said the viewing area is now restored while the grave remains fully preserved.

Authorities in Blaby closed two mini‑marts after a BBC investigation found convicted people smuggler Twana Jamal working illegally at the shops. New companies were registered at the same addresses days after the closure order, raising concerns about suspicious business activity. Officials said the premises must remain shut until at least 20 July, regardless of new ownership. Police and the Home Office are seeking information on Jamal’s immigration status while local political figures criticised the situation and called for action.

Leicester City Council will waive market traders’ rents until the end of 2026 to offset disruption from major construction works, including a new electricity sub‑station and the accelerated redevelopment of the market. Traders, relocated to a temporary site, say business has been slow, and the rent relief is seen as essential for their survival. Mayor Peter Soulsby acknowledged the challenges posed by operating in a construction zone and said the gesture aims to help traders endure the intensified disruption as the project progresses. Work around the Corn Exchange and Market Place North is expected to continue into the new year, with further temporary inconveniences for traders and shoppers.

Cracked glazing over the original grave of Richard III at the Leicester visitor centre is being repaired after accidental damage, with work starting on 8 July and lasting three days. The site will be closed during repairs, which cost nearly £29,830 and are mostly covered by insurance. Specialists will replace the damaged glass while protecting the underlying archaeology. The grave, discovered in 2012 by University of Leicester archaeologists and the Richard III Society, remains a significant heritage attraction.

A court extended a temporary closure order on two Blaby mini-marts after a BBC investigation linked the shops to convicted people smuggler Twana Jamal, who was observed working there illegally. Blaby District Council sought a three‑month closure order, but the application was adjourned, prompting the court to extend the emergency order until 20 July. Officials and local MP Alberto Costa expressed concerns about Jamal’s presence and asylum status, while authorities continue investigations into the premises and his activities.

An MP has raised concerns over the planned closure of Diseworth CofE Primary School after governors voted to shut it due to falling pupil numbers, staff resignations and financial pressures. Parents and the MP criticised the lack of consultation, while Leicestershire County Council said a statutory consultation will take place in the autumn, even though the school is due to close this month. Council officials emphasised that no teaching staff will remain in September and said their priority is ensuring all affected pupils find alternative school places.

A group of social enterprises is seeking to prevent the sale of the Grade II listed Fosse Neighbourhood Centre in Leicester by having it designated an asset of community value, enabling time to develop a plan to purchase and operate it as a community hub. Leicester City Council intends to close the building as part of cost‑saving measures, citing declining use and repair needs, and aims to market it for sale in 2027. The group’s proposal includes retaining the food bank, hosting the library, and creating a community café and office space, while the council works on relocation options for existing services.

Construction has begun on a 420-place primary school that will serve the new Broadnook village in Leicestershire, where 2,000 homes are being built. The school, funded by Davidsons Homes and Cora Homes, is scheduled to open in September 2027, with academy trusts invited to bid to operate it. Local leaders say the project will help meet high demand for school places, with 45 more schools planned in the next decade to accommodate expected growth.

Leicestershire County Council is seeking to fill 32 vacant school crossing patrol positions amid difficulties attracting new candidates. Officials highlighted challenging weather conditions but stressed the importance of keeping children safe. Long‑serving patrol officers were recognized for their service, and several described the work as rewarding and fulfilling.

Reform UK councillor Michael Squires issued an unreserved apology after a Leicestershire County Council panel found that his social media post criticising a trans flag‑coloured lanyard in a recruitment image could negatively impact staff and the council’s reputation. Squires acknowledged that reposting an identifiable employee was inappropriate and accepted responsibility for any distress caused. He removed the post when asked and has since completed training on social media and conduct standards. While apologising for singling out the staff member, he maintained that public servants should remain politically neutral.